Astros medical updates and today’s lineup

SARASOTA, Fla. — Good afternoon from beautiful Sarasota, Fla. and good morning to those of you an hour behind the times in Houston.

Michael Bourn’s illness and days off for the other outfielders have made this a fairly thin Astros lineup. I know, before you write it: It was a thin lineup to begin with. Or were you going to go with It’s a thin lineup because Carlos Lee isn’t in it.

Seems like you’ve had a couple days off from weight jokes, so I’m guessing the latter.

• Bourn was supposed to be on the trip to Sarasota, but was scratched for a second straight day because of an illness. He is tentatively written into the lineup for Wednesday against the Nationals.

• Clint Barmes is simply getting a day off. He’ll be in the game Wednesday.

• Alberto Arias will play catch today as he recovers from complications of last year’s shoulder problems and season-ending surgery. Again, opening day is not a realistic target for Arias.

• Wandy Rodriguez, who was supposed to start today, is still being considered a probable starter for his next time in the rotation as he deals with shoulder tendinitis. The Astros expect to know more Wednesday.